FREQUENTLY  ASKED  QUESTIONS  

Will   the   life   of   a   fluorescent   lamp   be   shortened   if   turned   on   and   off  frequently?    Switching  fluorescent  lamps  on  and  off  does  reduce  lamp  life;  it  also  reduces  the  operating  time  that  the  lamp  is  actually  turned  on.  For  instance,  a  standard  T12  F40  fluorescent  lamp  operating  continuously  for  24  hours  per  day  has  a  total  lamp  life  of  38,000  hours.  Since  a  year  has  8,760  hours  this  lamp  would  burn  out   in  about  4.3  years.  On  the  other  hand,  the  same  lamp  operating  12  continuous  hours  per  day  has  a  lamp  life  of  30,000  hours.  Although  the  lamp  life  has  been  reduced  by  about  21%,  the  operating  time  of  the  lamp  has  been  reduced  by  50%  and  the  “calendar  life”  of  the  lamp  has  been  increased.  Consequently,  this   lamp  would   now   take   about   6.8   years   to   burn   out.   In   this   case,   both   lamp   replacement   costs   and  energy  costs  have  been  substantially  reduced.      How  do  fluorescent  lights  save  energy?    A  typical  incandescent  bulb  creates  light  by  passing  an  electric  current  through  a  wire  to  heat  it  until  it  glows.  Therefore,  ninety  percent  of  the  electricity  used  is  wasted  to  generate  heat,  while  only  10%  of  the  electricity   produces   light.   A   fluorescent   light   uses   electricity   to   generate   a   chemical   reaction   that  produces  light  -­‐  up  to  90%  of  the  electricity  consumed  produces  light.      How  much  money  can  I  save  by  switching  to  efficient  lighting?  The   amount   of   savings   is   determined   by   a   number   of   factors,   including   the   original   cost   of   the  replacement   lamps,   the   electricity   rates   paid   the   number   of   hours   the   lights   are   left   on   and  more.   In  almost  every  case,  an  efficient  light  will  eventually  pay  for  itself  and  go  on  to  save  you  money.  Investing  in  efficient  lighting  is  practically  guaranteed  to  give  you  significant  returns.      Should  my  facility  retrofit  or  replace  our  existing  lighting  fixtures?    The  choice   is   typically  driven  by  available  capital.  Both  options  will  provide  an   immediate  reduction   is  energy  costs.  Most   retrofit  projects   replace   the  ballast  and   lamps.   In  almost  all   cases,   a   strip  or   troffer  fixture  can  be  retrofitted  with  a  reflector  and  de-­‐lamped  as  well.  Retrofitting  is  an  economical  approach  to  quick  returns  and  enhanced  lighting.      Why  do  utility  companies  offer  rebates  and  where  does  the  money  come  from?    The   utility   companies   recognized   a   few   years   ago   that   it   could   be   cheaper   to   encourage   electricity  conservation   than   to   build   additional   power   plants   and   distribution   lines   to   handle   our   continually  growing   demand   for   electricity.   The   government   agreed   and   allowed   the   utilities   to   charge   every  electricity   user   an   additional   fee   for   conservation.   A   portion   of   the   money   collected   has   been   made  available  through  use  of  rebate  programs.            

 

 

   

     Can  energy  efficient  lighting  make  a  real  difference  for  the  environment?  

• Combined  number  of  commercial  buildings  (4.8  million)  and  industrial  facilities  (350,000)  in  the  United  States:  over  five  million  

• Combined   annual   energy   costs   for   U.S.   commercial   buildings   ($107.9   billion)   and   industrial  facilities   ($94.4   billion):   $202.3   billion;   Portion   of   energy   in   buildings   used   inefficiently   or  unnecessarily:  30%  

• Combined  percentage  of  U.S.  greenhouse  gas  emissions  generated  by  commercial  buildings  (17%)  and  industrial  facilities  (28%):  45%  

• Percentage  of  energy  use  reduction  targeted  by  the  ENERGY  STAR  Challenge:  10%  • Amount   of   money   that   would   be   saved   if   the   energy   efficiency   of   commercial   and   industrial  

buildings  improved  by  10%:  $20  billion  • Amount  of  greenhouse  gas  emissions  that  would  be  reduced  if  the  energy  efficiency  of  commercial  

and   industrial   buildings   improved   by   10%:   equal   to   approximately   30   million   vehicles.  Number   of   registered   automobiles   in   Illinois,   New   York,   Ohio,   and   Texas   combined:   about   30  million  

Source:  (Department  of  Energy  www.eia.doe.gov  /  www.energystar.gov)    What  is  the  impact  of  U.S.  energy  use  on  the  planet?    

• The  approximate  energy  released  in  the  burning  of  a  wood  match:  1  Btu  • Total  energy  used  in  the  U.S.  each  year:  99.89  quadrillion  Btu  • Portion  of  U.S.  annual  energy  use  created  by  the  combustion  of  fossil  fuels:  86%  • Amount   of   global   carbon   dioxide   released   into   the   atmosphere   in   2005:  6,000  million  metric  

tons    • U.S.   contribution   of   global   Greenhouse   gas   emissions:   approximately   20%;   U.S.   population  

represents  5%  of  the  world  population  • Amount  of  greenhouse  gas  emissions  that  have  increased  between  1970  and  2004:  70%